1989 Château de Fonsalette "Cuvée Syrah - Réservé" Côtes-du-Rhône

“The nose explodes from the glass with scents of super-ripe cassis fruit, ground pepper, Provencal herbs, meaty tones, chocolate, roses, and earth. The purity and explosiveness of the bouquet are a quick reminder of how spectacular the 1989 and 1990 vintages are in the southern Rhône. On the palate the wine is deep, robust and crammed with sweet fruit, with excellent complexity and focus, plenty in reserve in the mid-palate, and a long, chewy finish. As spectacular as this wine is drinking right now, I would guess that another four or five years would pay handsome dividends. It is certainly not a wine that is threatening imminent decline. Truly superb stuff- why did I not buy a few cases? 93+” (12/2003)

“The 1989 Cuvee Syrah is similar to the 1990, exhibiting exceptional intensity, a black/ruby/purple color, a huge perfume of black-raspberries, and a whoppingly long, moderately tannic finish. Typically, it is extracted, large-scaled, and capable of lasting for another 20+ years. Impressive! (RP)” (02/1996)